BBC One’s The Guest has been generating quite a buzz on social media, and as a longtime fan of Eve Myles, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Spoiler: the praise is well-deserved. The Guest is a perfectly formed, high-concept little noir that’s remarkably bingeable, the kind of show that grips you from the first episode and refuses to let go.

The series revolves around Ria, played with impressive nuance by Gabrielle Creevy. She’s a down-at-heel cleaner whose life isn’t going anywhere. That life takes a sudden turn when she becomes entangled with Fran, a charming, charismatic and very affluent furniture dealer. Fran, seeing plenty of untapped potential in Ria (or is that vulnerability?), hires her as her new cleaner, promising a good wage and access to her stately home. However, the house has secrets – what does Fran really import? What is behind that locked door? What really happened to the previous cleaner, Anna? And what, frankly, is Fran’s game – why did she choose Ria and what does she really want with her? Ria quickly finds herself navigating a maze of secrets, lies, and escalating threats, especially when a romantic date ends up in a violent conclusion. All of this unfolds under the watchful gaze of Fran…

In many ways, The Guest feels like the TV equivalent of an airport thriller – fast-paced, highly readable, and ideal for a couple of binge sessions on holiday. It’s light enough to digest quickly but smartly constructed, with plenty of twists, turns, and guessing games that keep the audience invested as the psychological thriller elements develop. There are moments where the plot stretches credulity – Ria dismisses so many glaring red flags that it becomes a little embarrassing – but the series never loses its momentum, and the tension is sufficient to keep you hooked.

A lot of the show’s impact comes from its performances. Gabrielle Creevy brings depth to Ria, making her both sympathetic and resilient, but it’s Eve Myles who truly steals the show. Her Fran is one of the most interestingly written villains in a while – her backstory is compelling, her motivations believable, and her methodical, calm manipulation of Ria is terrifyingly subtle. Every glance, every pause, every controlled interaction is a masterclass in psychological tension.

The ending of The Guest is interesting, too. Not only does it hint at the possibility of a second series, but it also leaves a provocative message: Ria, having survived Fran’s nightmare, appears poised to step into the very role she once feared. The series closes on a chilling note of transformation, a reminder that sometimes surviving the darkness means carrying a little of it forward. Eat the loaf, indeed.

In short, The Guest is fun, gripping, and elevated by standout performances, particularly from Myles. It’s not perfect, but it’s a clever, binge-worthy psychological thriller that will keep viewers thinking long after the final credits roll.

Paul Hirons

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Guest is shown in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer